SANDPOINT — Movies and TV shows stream online.

Football games are broadcast on what were once dedicated only to online shopping.

You can pay your bills online.

You can even play trivia games from the comfort of your phone and bank online in the comfort of your jammies.

Now, you make donations to the Sandpoint Lions' Toys for Tots Christmas drive — ensuring a merry Christmas for every child in the Lake Pend Oreille School District.

With less than a week to go before Christmas, Toys for Tots drive has a long way to go to hit its $75,000 target.

That's the amount needed to help the more than 1,000 local youth have a merry Christmas. However, while demand is up again this year, donations are slow to come in this year. 

To make things easy for those wishing to help, the Lions have added a digital donation page where community members from the comfort of their phones and home computers can make a quick and secure donation to Toys for Tots.

The link to make an online donation is bit.ly/LionsToysForTots.

For those who have donated — and those planning to — thank you. 

While slower-than-hoped, the Lions (and the children they are aiming to help) appreciate every donation. 

And, somehow, this community always comes through. The compassion and love for others — especially the region's youngest, more innocent members — shines through every day. By the time the drive wraps up, you will see the names of just about every business and community group in the community — from Sandpoint to Clark Fork and Dover to Ponderay and all points in between.

You won’t find a more generous group of business and community groups than in Sandpoint. From the first day of the year to the last, they go out of their way to help those in need as well as those seeking donations for various causes and fundraisers. And yet, when it comes to Toys for Tots, they dig even deeper because they know the joy of Christmas and they know the smiles that the Lions Club members bring in their guise as Santa’s elves.

If you haven't donated and would like to do so, please do. Every donation, big or small, adds up and if we all pitch in, we can make this, once again, a successful Toys for Tots campaign. 

Today's generous donations, totaling $4,170.85, come from: Robin L. Nelson, $200; anonymous, "found money on our walks," $70.85; anonymous, $100; Duane and Marilyn Ward, "in memory of Dell Brown, past Lions president," $200; Sand Creek Schweitzer Conoco, $2,500; Jeanette Schandelmeier, $150; David A. and Joan C. Milbrath, $100; Jack and Colleen Filipowski, $100; William H. and Louise S. Callen, $500; and Patricia and Gale Burnett, $250.

To date, the campaign has raised $35,534.35 of the $75,000 needed to ensure every child in the community has a merry Christmas.

Each year, the Lions team up with local businesses and residents through Toys for Tots to ensure everyone has a merry Christmas.

Funds raised go toward purchasing new toys for area children — or gift cards for older youth — who live in the Lake Pend Oreille School District.

Every Christmas, the Lions help almost 1,000 area children, from Sandpoint to Clark Fork and all points in between.

Donations may be mailed to the Sandpoint Lions Club, P.O. Box 414, Sandpoint, ID 83864, or dropped into any coin jar around town. Donations should include a note that it is for Toys for Tots and, if you wish to remain anonymous, please mention that in your note.

Donations made by check are preferred. Be sure to include a note with your check indicating that it is a Toys for Tots donation. If you wish to make an anonymous donation, please include a note.

If the donation is being made in someone’s name, be sure to also include a note.

Each day during the drive, donors’ names will be published along with the amount of their donations. A running total will be included to help the community know where the Toys for Tots campaign stands.

If you can, please consider donating. Every penny, every dollar adds up, and if we all pitch in, we can make this, once again, a successful Toys for Tots campaign. Additional donations help the Lions buy ahead and make the most of the community’s generous support.

In Sandpoint, toys and donations can be dropped off at the Bonner County Daily Bee, Mr. Sub, Columbia Bank, Connie’s Cafe, Serv-A-Burger, Mountain West Bank, Pivo Peaks Alehouse, Sandpoint Family Medicine and Urgent Care, and the Bonner County Fairgrounds.

In Sagle, toys and donations can be dropped off at Buckin’ Beans and Encoder Products (in the front lobby, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.).

In Ponderay, toys and donations can be dropped off at Alpenglow Salon, Walmart, North 40, Columbia Bank, Arnie’s, Better Together Animal Shelter, Community Resource EnVision Center, Litehouse, Elite Tire, Vinnie Todd’s Barbershop, Hoot Owl, Papa Murphy’s and Mountain West Bank.

Information: Sandpoint Lions Club, 208-263-4118, [email protected] or bit.ly/SandpointLions